WASHINGTON, Conn. — The questions to his doctor were specific and "more than you can count", noted Shepaug Valley baseball player John DeFeo. DeFeo didn't hold anything back, coming to the realization that life as he knew it at the young age of 16 was hanging in the balance because of a debilitating back problem, diagnosed as a curvature of the spine, known as scoliosis.

"What was surprising to me is I didn't have any (serious) pain," he said. "I just had trouble standing up straight."

The only way to correct the problem was surgery, to specifically insert two rods on either side of his back, beginning from the lower back to the shoulder blades, to stabilize it.

Some of the more glaring questions he asked of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Thomson of Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford, were straight from the hip.

Would he wake up? Yes.

Would he walk again? Yes.

How long would the surgery take? Six-to-eight hours, and possibly longer.

How long would he be in the hospital? Seven-to-eight days.

What would be the recovery time? Six-to-eight months before he could resume physical activity again.

According to DeFeo, Dr. Thomson, an expert in spinal fusion surgery, laid out all the facts and figures to DeFeo and parents Lisa and John, who had received several other opinions.

"Dr. Thomson basically said that if I didn't have the surgery, by the time I was 18 or 19, I would (likely) be in a wheelchair," said DeFeo. "I was progressively getting worse. My mind was going through a roller-coaster ride. That day, we made the appointment for surgery. Two months later, the surgery was performed.

"I never lost hope. I had total faith and trust in him."

Even more so now.

DeFeo's girlfriend, Staci Shuhi, now a senior and three-sport athlete at Litchfield High, marveled at John's upbeat mood throughout this trying time.

"For as long as I known him, John has never complained about anything," Shuhi said. "His outlook before the surgery was so positive. He always says that there is someone worse off than he and if they can recover and handle things, he can do it, too. He never lets anything stand in his way."

DeFeo proved that to be true following the July 2010 surgery, reducing the anticipated hospital stay by a full two days. DeFeo had a purpose.

"If you are moping around and sobbing, it would end up prolonging the stay up to two weeks. I told the nurses that I would be out in less than that," he said.

The day after DeFeo returned home to New Preston, "You couldn't tell John even had the surgery," said Shuhi. "He looked fine."

There was only one stumbling block, though, for DeFeo, who agonized over the longterm recovery period.

"I didn't have to wear a back brace and I didn't need physical therapy, but the doctor told me that I needed to do a lot of walking," said DeFeo. "That was the only thing I could physically do. I needed to reduce the physical stress on the back and avoid bending over."

Going to baseball games, especially at Ted Alex Field, would become a large chore for him for a different reason.

"Two days after I got home from the hospital, I went to a game and was sitting in the dugout and although it was great to be outside and out of a hospital bed, it was extremely frustrating and upsetting," said DeFeo. "I wanted to be out on the field. I didn't stay too long."

Actually, DeFeo couldn't wait to get home.

"I was mad and pretty angry," he said.

But then the outlook on life he had constantly mentioned to Shuhi, and his perseverance, finally kicked in. So did the daily encouragement by his teammate and best friend Brian Hungerford, who incidentally introduced him to Staci nearly four years ago.

"What John has done is incredible," said Hungerford. "He never stops trying and that's what I love about him."

DeFeo only could imagine opening day of baseball season, his junior year. Just weeks earlier, he was cleared to resume physical activity. "I pitched in a scrimmage, and went five or six innings and did fine," he said. "It did feel weird being on the mound. I had to get back to my routine and into a rhythm. It was hard, but manageable."

His confidence eventually began to build. DeFeo finished his junior year with a 2-1 record and one save in 37.1 innings, making his comeback story a complete success.

"He's a battler," added Wamogo coach Gregg Hunt. "He won't throw the ball by you, but he will keep you off-balanced. If he has a tough inning, he will come right back at you."

While DeFeo was hit with one of life's cruel curveballs, he's adjusted well, so much in fact that his senior project at Shepaug is based on his comeback.

Last weekend, DeFeo was the director of a golf tournament, called Teeing off for Scoliois, a benefit held at Fairview Farm Golf Course in Harwinton. DeFeo met with golf professional, Bob Sparks in late 2011 to work out the details.

"Mr. Sparks made it happen and was so accommodating," said DeFeo.

What makes this even more than a project is that DeFeo will donate nearly $1,000 raised by player fees and donations, to the Connecticut Children's Hospital orthopedic department.

"This is very special," said Dr. Thomson. "We get thank-you notes from grateful patients, but for John to follow through like this is very nice and unexpected. It says a lot about him as a person. He put in the time and effort. It was a pleasant surprise."

For his project, he had two meet and greet events at the hospital with others who were going through orthopedic procedures and will finish the year with a 45-minute presentation in early June.

"I didn't have any one person in particular that I wanted to help out," he said. "I just wanted to make a difference somehow. My hope is that I can continue this tournament or someone else can take it over. Over the course of the day, people enjoyed themselves and were laughing and having a good time for a good cause."

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Binny wrote on May 14, 2012 3:49 PM:

" Great Job John! You are a wonderful person and I wish you luck in the future . The golf tournament was a success and benefitted a great cause. "

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